Dear Meenakshi and Vinay

A point well put. I agree that if you're not going to give children a vocabulary (read comfort) for the body then how on earth are they going to be able to address its violation/discomfort. In all my years of working on child sexual abuse what I kept telling parents and other keepers of 'morality and purity' of children, was that you have to understand that abusers strategise all the time about how to abuse children and as parents and caretakers of children we too need to strategise on how to make sure that our children don't fall prey to them.

Enjoyed reading your piece as always. Insightful, witty and informative.

love

Of course you're right! Thanks Meenakshi and Vinay for another informative and wise piece.

Dear Meenakshi

You are quite a champ when it comes to what is right with children. "It is learning to unlearn and unlearning to learn." Priceless observation Meenakshi and the most fundamental tool any parent can use to ensure they are receptive and flexible to the signs and times that is in effect their child. The small and big ways in which you step out of your fears/migivings/blocks to ensure you child has a head start with self-reliance. And I guess the most fascinating thing is that in parenting you are also being given the oppurtunity to free yourself from old baggage, do it right for your child at least create anew over old grooves. Primarily because nothing is a one-way street in life, all is an oppurtunity to give and recieve.
Thank You for another gem. :-)

Dear Meenakshi and Vinay,

A piece written at just the right time! With the discussions on child porn, child sexual abuse, your piece is a ray of hope that can help many parents to protect their children from these sexual crimes.

It was indeed a very informative piece!

Dear Meenakshi,

Absolutely right you are! Its such a pleasure reading your pieces. So much to learn about the art called Parenting. Comfort with the body, needless to say, is of immense value for a healthy and happy sexual being and the timing, being equally important. And I totally agree with the hypocricy aspect that you brought out.

Excellent piece!

As a parent of a 13 year old daughter and a six year old son....i couldnt agree more with you.

In fact i had written a similar comment once about how i always called her vagina, a vagina which led to a bone tickling moment for all present at the situation. :)

To share a funny story told about Osho how risky it gets not giving children the right language.

A woman had a three year old whom she had to take everywhere including the satsangs she loved to frequent. Scared that the child's natural needs might embarrass her she decided to tell him that every time he needed to pee he should just say to her "Mujhe kaan mein kuch kahna hai" (I need to whisper something in your ear)

And so it was and the child continued not to embarrass her and she managed to spend many hours at public prayers with him in tow. One day she had to leave town for a family emergency and the child had to be left with an elderly neighbour. Forgetting to tell him the code word the woman left the unsuspecting neighbour with her son.

At night the child woke him up insisting loudly 'mujhe kaan mein kuch kahan hai'. The unsuccessful attempts by the confused neighbour to put him back to sleep finally irritated him and he snapped at the child " To kehdo mere kaan main, jaldi se." (so hurry up and say it in my ear) and offered his ear to the child.

And right away, that's where the little one said it too!

dear sir,

this is one of the smartest things i have ever heard